Giffords off ventilator following procedure

Jan. 15, 2011 01:48 PMThe Arizona Republic

The breathing tube in U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' throat was removed and replaced with a tracheotomy tube in her windpipe, a procedure that potentially offers doctors a chance to evaluate whether she can speak.

The tracheotomy was performed Saturday morning by doctors at University Medical Center. It frees her from a ventilator, or breathing device, while protecting her airway.

Giffords has been breathing on her own for several days, but doctors kept the breathing tube in place as a precaution.

Surgeons on Saturday also inserted a feeding tube to provide nutrition to the wounded congresswoman.

Both procedures are not uncommon among brain-injured patients in the intensive-care unit, according to the University Medical center report Saturday. Giffords is still listed in critical condition.

Another shooting victim, James Tucker, was discharged Saturday, leaving only Giffords and two other victims of the Jan. 8 rampage as patients at the medical center.

Susan Hileman and George Morris remained in the hospital. Both were listed in good condition.

Giffords continues to make progress after being shot in the head at point-blank range just a week ago. She is able to track with her eyes and has the ability to move her arms and legs, doctors reported Friday.

On Wednesday, Giffords opened her eyes spontaneously. On Thursday, she began a physical-therapy routine after showing doctors she could lift both arms and legs when held upright by medical staff.

Doctors had said they should be able to evaluate her ability to speak once the breathing tube was out.

"We look at whether or not someone is able to move when we ask them to, we look at whether or not they open their eyes spontaneously and the last piece is what is their verbalization," Lemole said Thursday. "We can't assess that with a breathing tube in."